The true story of the Rutles

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The true story of the Rutles

One of the stranger footnotes in both the Monty Python and Beatles stories is The Rutles, a comedy band creation of Neil Innes (The Bonzo Dog Band) and Eric Idle (Monty Python's Flying Circus). The concept of a goofy alternate universe Beatles was originally launched for a short sketch or two, but what eventually developed was a major TV special (including cameos by George Harrison, Mick Jagger and Bill Murray), as well as two albums of work.

The Rutles' music is really pretty great - Innes' ear for song is terrific, and his arrangements recall all of the Beatles' different periods. Unfortunately I can't find any free samples online, however...

1) At the Rutles homepage you canlisten to snips of interview by people related to the fictional Rutles.

2) The real motivation for this post is the discovery of this disappeared account of "The True Story" of The Rutles. Although long removed from the Net, the Web Archive lets you read a detailed, sympathetic and largely fascinating tale - most notable for the way it brings to light the animosity that grew between Idle and Innes, and the reasons for this. It starts out like a bandography and then ends with delicious celebrity mudslinging.